The Significance of the Year of the Ox and Korean Zodiac
In Korea, each year is represented by a set of animals based on the lunar calendar that repeats in a 12-year cycle. The legend has it that 12 animals competed in a race to determine their place in the order of the Sibijisin. These 12 animals are the zodiac signs and the 12 gods of the earth that take the animal forms of a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
In the past, people also regarded these animals to be guardians from evil spirits and were used to measure time. 24 hours was divided by 12 division cycles and every 2 hours had its own representative animal. People believed that each animal was a guardian of its hour and kept them safe during the day. The animals were honoured so much that statues of them have been constructed in royal sites as well.
When making choices in career, finance and marriage, people still consider the representative animal of each year. It is believed that a person born in a certain year at a certain time shares the same characteristics of the animal represented through this zodiac system. Because of this, the animal character of a year is an important part of the Korean society.
This year of 2021 is the Year of the Ox and known as so-tti in Korean.
The Ox represents a hardworking, honest and patient nature, while the year of the ox is considered to be one of peace and leisure. Those born in the year of the ox show traits of being down-to-earth, methodical and fierce. According to the 12-year cycle, the year of the ox has fallen so far in 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009.
The ox is regarded as a prominent asset in the Korean culture as well because it was used in agriculture. Farmers used them to plough fields and grow rice which is a staple food in Korea. It was also considered a ‘walking safe’ in the past, since it could be sold whenever the owner needed a large sum of money. The skin, horns and fat of it were used in daily life and its meat is an expensive food ingredient even today. In fact, because of this animal’s worth, there is a Korean saying that ‘there is nothing to waste from an ox except for its yawns’.
Buddhism considers the ox as the essential goddess of human nature. And in Feng Shui, the shape of a lying ox or its stomach is used to determine the ideal housing site. There is also a folktale of an ox saving its owner from a tiger that is an example of loyalty according to Confucianism.
This year in celebration of the ox year, an official stamp was introduced by Korea Post featuring images of the animal. While in Gangwon-do province, a metal sculpture of the animal was erected with the dawn of the new year.
Many countries including Japan, Vietnam and Thailand too follow a similar animal representation for each year. They have originated from the Chinese calendar but show certain differences in the animals used. The Chinese calendar rotates on a 60-year cycle and has 12 earthly branches that define each year with a representative animal and one of the five elements that include water, fire, earth, wood and metal. The animals in this calendar are similar to those in the Korean calendar with the exception of a goat that is used instead of a sheep. But in Japan the calendar is based on the sun and a boar is used instead of a pig. In Vietnam, the rabbit and ox are substituted by a cat and a buffalo and Thailand uses the mythical creature Naga instead of the dragon. While in Burma, the calendar has only 8 signs to match with the eight directions.
Despite the differences, this year we all hope things are as peaceful and happy as its predictions. So stay safe, stay happy and stay strong.
Happy New Year!
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